36th Kulay sa Tubig finalists paint from life experiences
Gallery Genesis founders Ernesto and Araceli Salas launched Kulay sa Tubig National Watercolor Invitational Competition in 1983. Since then, the interest and appreciation for the art medium, considered one of the most challenging to master, has grown and developed. Many past winners, including Hall of Fame inductees Manuel Baldemor, Edgar Fernandez and Araceli Dans, went on to become prominent visual artists.
This year’s edition, the 36th Kulay sa Tubig, attracted more than 300 aspirants, who were eventually winnowed down to 97 finalists. Each artwork was evaluated by the board of judges headed by Felipe de Leon Jr., a former professor of Arts Studies at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and commissioner at the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
De Leon’s fellow judges were Mita Rufino, president of the Filipino Heritage Festival Inc. and cofounder of ArteFino; Lito Zulueta, journalist and assistant professor at the University of Santo Tomas; Kenneth Esguerra, senior curator for the Ayala Museum; Cid Reyes, artist and art critic; and Tina Colayco, president of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.
Being aesthetically complex and giving homage to Philippine life and culture were among the qualities that the judges looked for, De Leon said in his speech at the opening of the exhibit showcasing all shortlisted artworks. The event took place on Sept. 20 at the Estancia Mall in Ortigas, where Gallery Genesis is also located.
The exhibit will run until Oct. 4. At the opening, the top five watercolorists and five runners-up were announced.
Winners
The five winners, in no particular order, are Mc Miller Andes for “Lambat ni Erpat Sana Maka Jackpot,” Rolan Guina for “Solitude,” Mark Payawal for “Panhik,” Crispin Tuazon for “Bagito,” and Benedict Arquero for “Calle Luna Corner Quirino Blvd Vigan City.”
Runners-up were William Alcantara for “Daungan ng Isda (Fishport),” Kevin Lacanaria for “Init ng Liwanag na Tumatama sa Daloy ng Buhay ng Palengke,” Rhodelyn Come for “Ivatan Girl,” Alfredo Morales for “Root World,” and Julius Legaspi for “Quinta Market, Quiapo.”
Having five equal winners has always been the hallmark of Kulay sa Tubig, according to Gallery Genesis president Patrice Salas. She told Lifestyle, “We feel that they all deserve to be labeled as the top watercolorists. Actually, most of them tell us, ‘Just to be invited to the competition is a win in itself.’ For them to be competing against 300 other artists is already a big accomplishment.”
The young Salas expressed delight and pride for the continued success of the foremost competition focusing on the watercolor medium. “It feels great that a lot of the artists not only take on Kulay sa Tubig for the reward, but they also enjoy the competition. They actually become a community. They all end up becoming friends. So, it’s really about uplifting everybody for the love of the art.”
She added, “One of the things that we love about it is not just the artworks but the stories behind them. It’s great that every time you ask them, ‘What made you paint this?’ And then they tell you the background, the history, where they came from. It’s so uplifting to know these artists really draw and paint from experience.”
Back stories
Andes’ “Lambat” is based on the fishermen the artist from Sampaloc, Manila, met while on a family outing in the coastal town of Puerto Galera in Mindoro. “I just thought they’re so underrated, just like our farmers,” he told us in Filipino. “Their work is so hard. They might be praying for a big catch, like a jackpot, that they can bring home to their families.”
He recalled working on his piece for about a month, but not continuously, as he was busy with his work as a copy designer. Then, he and his wife had to deal with the sudden passing of his mother-in-law, marking a low point in their married life. That blow was somehow softened when he earned a spot in the art competition’s top five.
His victory also meant he should stick to his art, said the fine arts graduate from Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology in Manila. “All I did before were drawings, then I tried watercolor painting. But I stopped. I never thought I could go back to painting. Because I won, I’m very thankful. I will continue painting.”
Tuazon likewise vows to keep painting, especially now that he’s 60 and already retired from his work as an airbrush artist and designer of export-quality products. “I have the time to paint. This is really my passion. Aside from watercolor, I’ve tried oil and acrylic.”
He explained that the trio of untarnished nails in a bed of rusty nails in his painting represents a new hire in a company. He said, “Will the newbie adopt the good or the bad elements in his new environment?”
For newbie artists, too
Payawal, an architect, is grateful that Kulay sa Tubig gives a chance for starting artists like him to shine. He told us that while he had an arts subject in his architecture course, he only took up watercolor painting in 2021. Two years later, he joined Kulay sa Tubig but didn’t make it through the pre-screening process. He tried again this year and made it all the way to top five.
His winning piece, which shows three boys looking happy and accomplished after climbing a tree, signifies the youngsters’ “power over everyone else as they are in control of their lives.” It also signifies youthful energy that the artist said adults should revisit one last time.
Guina, meanwhile, won for the third time. This means he can no longer compete as he’s been elevated to the Hall of Fame. He believes he won because his depiction of a lone bird perched on a web of wires around an electric post is rich in detail. In fact, he considers it the most detailed among his works, including his earlier wins, “Bike Check” (2022) and “Masalimuot na Teritoryo” (2023).
Guina, who works as a background concept artist in an animation company, told us that he got the inspiration for “Solitude” from an image of electrical wires he had seen online that he later on enhanced and perfected. Along the way, he said, he overcame his fear of going for something thoroughly detailed and realized how far he could push his capabilities in the hyperrealistic style. He then declared, “If you spend a lot of time making something, you will achieve it.”
His tips to aspiring artists who plan on joining Kulay sa Tubig next year: “Find a subject that will challenge you. Don’t stick to the common or ordinary because your work needs to stand out among the many good ones. Go for something that’s different and has a strong impact.”
